About J. J. Hill Montessori

ABOUT

J. J. Hill

About Our School

With guidance from certified Montessori teachers, students at J. J. Hill use hands-on materials to establish critical thinking skills and respond to real-world issues. Through multi-age classrooms, students develop relationships with the same teacher and community. Montessori education seeks to educate the whole child: developing social emotional skills while maintaining high academic expectations.

International Peace Site J.J Hill is proud of its designation as an international peace site. We originally became a peace site in October, 1992. Each classroom develops an activity, a presentation, or a play to illustrate a specific theme for that year. The theme relates in some way to the overarching goal of peace. It's a delightful and beautiful time in our yearly calendar, a time of joy and creativity.

Peace means that, on the classroom level, we involve children in making peace and building community. Students are taught responsibilities such as facilitating a class meeting, peer mediation, and mentorship of younger students. Community service is an important part of what we do. It can involve care of the classroom environment, listening to younger students read in another classroom, or social problem solving skills that emphasize listening and problem solving.

J.J. Hill Montessori takes pride on the continuity of its staff, and the diversity of its children. Many teachers have been with the program since elementary grades were introduced in 1989. The student body mixes students of all nationalities.

The Prepared Environment allows choice of work; choice of work stimulates concentration; the responsibility for taking things out and putting them away develops order; and the ability to move about the room enhances coordination, maturity and independence. Serious about the child's capacity as well as the propitiousness of the age, Montessori claimed it is our job to "prepare children for life."

School Office: 6:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. The Office is very busy before classes are in session and just before classes are dismissed at the end of the day.

There are limited phone lines in the school office. When they are all busy, it rings as if the office is unoccupied. Please try to call again in a few minutes. Your calls are important. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Multi-Age Groupings Montessori classroom are multi-age. A child stays with the same teacher for two or three years at JJ Hill. Multi-age groupings enhance academics (students see and hear parts of lessons one to two years before they are taught the material); and socialization (older students help younger students).

Children's House (CH) - Half day pre-K and all day kindergarten

Elementary I (E1) — Children in grades 1-3

Elementary II (E2) — Children in grades 4 and 5.

School Hours

7:15 a.m.- 7:30 a.m. Students enter the building. Breakfast to Go is available in the cafeteria and to be taken to classrooms.

7:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. PreK - Grade 5

Our Mission Statement

To nurture and empower individuals to become lifelong learners, skilled peace-makers and problem solvers.

Discovery Club

The Discovery Club hours are: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Pick Up & Drop Off Safety

Arrival and dismissal are busy times of the school day. Please keep safety of all students in mind. Car traffic is allowed through the south parking lot. Traffic will flow one-way, following the white arrows. The parking lot exit to Laurel Avenue is closed. Laurel Avenue is for buses only at 7:10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.